Bottle crate



A. TAURMAN Feb. 18,1947.

BOTTLE CRATE Filed sept.. 25, 1944 s sh'eets-shget 1 i 4.14.,.1ih1111.

AT URN Y Feb.18,1947. A TAURMAN 2,416,242

BOTTLE CRATE Filed Sept. 25, 1944 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A- TAU R MAN IN VENTOR.

A. TAURMAN Feb. 1s, 1947.

BOTTLE CRATE Filed Sept. 25, 1944 A.'I'ALIRWIA-1A INVENTOR l BY I Trm-:Y'/i v Patented Feb. 18, `1947 UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CRATEl Alphonso Taurinan, Birmingham, Ala.

` Application'september 25, 1944, seal Ng. 555,633

Claims.

This invention relates to a bottle crate, particularly of the typeemployed in handling carbonated beverages and the like, and has for anobject the provision of a crate of the character designated which shallbe of `relatively light weight, comparable to the weight of woodencrates heretofore employed, and which shall have the requisite strengthto withstand rough handling.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bottle crate of thecharacter described which shall be formed of sheet metal, formed toshape and welded together, and which shall present no exposed rough orsharp edges endangering the hand of a person handling the crate.

A further object of my invention is to provide a metal bottle crate ofthe requisite weight and strength, and which shall be so formed as toprovide drains for liquid when held in any position, thereby affording ameans for galvanizing the crate after it is assembled.

Other important objects of my invention are to provide a metal bottlecrate embodying flanged sleeves for holding the bottles in place in thecrate and which are so disposed as to provide important reinforcingmeans for the sides and top of the crate; also, a bottle crate formedfrom sheet metal with holes punched in the topto receive the angedsleeves and so formed as to provide stiiening anges around the opening;and further, to provide a metal bottle crate, formed from sheet metal,which shall have depressed sides and corner longitudinal channelsproviding stiffening and a depressed panel for lettering.

In accordance with my invention, I employ a light weight sheet steelblank folded to form a rectangular tube with reinforcing channels alongthe corners. Flanged sleeves extend downwardly through the top to holdthe bottles in place, which sleeves are welded into the top and at thesides of the crate thereby providing substantial reinforcement. Thesides and ends of the crate are ,so shaped as to provide the maximum ofstrength with a minimum of weight, and the bottom of the crate isprovided with stiifening flanges formed from the material of the bottom,and so arranged as to provide drains which permit the escape of anyliquid from the crate which would other- Wise corrode the metal. Thisdesign also permits galvanizing of the crate after it is assembled. l

'Ihe foregoing and other important features of my invention areillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisapplication, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan View partly in section, of acrate made in accordance with my invention;

, Fig,.2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the crate; y, Fig. 4 is alongitudinal sectional view along the lines IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines V--V ofFig.`4;

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, end view of a top corner ofthe crate, drawnto a larger scale;

Fig. '7 is a detail elevational View of one of the ends and showingfragments of the bottom of the crate; s

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the parts` shown in Fig. 7;

Fig.v 9 is an elevational view of the center partition;

Fig.. 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along lines X-X ofFig. 6; and

Fig. 11 .isadetail sectional View showing the joining of the sleeves tothe top of the crate. l

. Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of myinvention, my improved bottle crate embodies a body portion I0 formedfrom a single sheet `of metal into. a tube generally rectangular inshape with the edges of the sheet of metal meeting in part in the bottomas shown at Il in Figs 5 and 8, and welded together. As the sheet ofmetal is folded over to form the rectangular tube, I form longitudinalcorner channels I2, I3, I4 and I 6 which protrude outwardly, overhangingthe sides, forming depressed side panels I'I and I8 between them, towhich lettering may be applied and thus be protected from damage. Thechannels I2, I3, I 4 and I 6 also provide stiiening and additional'strength for the corners of the crate. In the bottom of the body portionI form longitudinally extending corrugations or channels- I9 and 2|which provide additional stiffening for the bottom. The ends of thechannels I9 and 2l, as may be seenin Figs. 4 and 8 are stopped shortofthe ends of the crate andare left open to provide drainage, Also, yforthe major portion of the length. of the body portion I cut out andturnup edges 22 and 23 of the sheet forming the tube asdescribed, whichedges form stifening anges running substantially the length of thecrate, as may be' seenlin Figs. 4, 5 and 8. The flanges are stoppedshort ofthe ends of` the crate and .the openings in the bottom thusformed provide 4drainage for any liquid which might otherwise betrappedin the bottom of the crate. y

In bendingthe sheet to form the body portion, I also bend backthe endedges as shown at 2l ,and 25 to form open channels which extendsubstantially all around the end of the body portion, but which areVnecessarily closedV at the corners was shown at 21 in Fig. 6.

The ends of the crate are each formed from presented. The flanges 29,3l, 32Vand 33, are-v hooked into the open end anges of the body por-`tion 24and 23 as'shown in Fig, 4 and the ends ispot welded along saidchannelstothe; sheet, as: shown at 25 in Fig. 10, forming the bodyportion. There is thus formed a smooth, or rounded edge substantiallyall around the ends of theacrate l with three thicknesses of metal andwith inturned `flanges, onthe. body .portion .and outturned flanges lonthe ends., The cutout portions at,the corners of the .end .provideadditional drainagefor any liquid which might.y otherwise be, trappedyin the crate..

Extending across the center of the crateis a :reinforcing partition 3B(see Figs. 4 rand 9). The partition 36 is formed from sheet Vmetal withits ends and edges turned back to form stiffening flanges 31' and 38across the top andbottom of the. partition, respectively, andli!)y and4| at the ends ofthe partitionV The corners are cut away las shown at 42to provide for drainage around ithe ends of the lpartition. `Also, asmaybe seen in Fig. 8, the bottom ofthe partition is notched out at 43, 44and, 46 toclear the stiiieninglcorrugations I9 and 2| and the upturnedanges 22. and 23. also notched out..as shown. at .4.1, 48, 49 and i5|to. form drains when the crate isinverted. In order to provide cleanout. holes` .the ends and the par- The upperedge of. the partition 35 istition may be cut out as indicated at 55 and.' 60

, inFigsLf? and 9, turning the edges of the end f openings over Yasindicated.. by dotted lines.

The top ofthe body portion I ll. is punched out as shown in Figs. 1, 4and .5` to ,provide rows of In the openings 2 are inserted sheetjoined'. thereto by welding as. indicated at 55 in Fig. l1. Also, asshown in Figs. 4 and.5., the outer l rows of sleeves extend downwardlyinto the crate i abutting the sides and ends of the crate and are joinedto the sides and ends by weldinggas indicated at in Fig. l0, therebyforming a major reinforcement for the crate. It will be seen that l byproviding Ythe sleeves 54 and welding their anges tothe, tOp, and bywelding the body portions of the outerrowsto the sides'of the crate, Iam enabled .to employ a very light gauge sheet metal for constructingthe crate and the-'sleeves and. at theI same time'provide the maximum ofstiffness'and strength, so as to withstand the l rough handling to whichsuch crates are subjected..l Y l At the ends of the crateI providehandles each 1 formedfrom a piece of sheet metal withthe bot'- tomrolled over to form a tube 51 and with'the 1 body portions 58 turnedinwardly at. .59 to form a flange which is welded to the top',overhanging the vend of the crate. The'ends of the body por- 1 tion 53'are turned inwardly, as shown at 6|n Fig. 1, and joined to the end ofthe crate, I thus provide a handle which may be readily grasped withoutdanger of injury to the person handling the crate.

y From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised a beveragebottle crate made of sheet metal which is light of weight, rugged ofconstruction, and which can withstand a maxinrumofroughhandling. Y

While, IV have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the Vart that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modications, without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire,

therefore, that/only such limitations shall beV placed `thereupon, asare specically sety forth in the appended' claims Y what 1.01am is:

l. A bottle crate comprising a body portion formed from a single sheetof metal bent in the shape ofla rectangular tube with the edges. meetingin part and welded together at the bottom and inthe other part bentupwardlyfto form stiffening l flanges and drainage openings inthe'bottom, said body portion also :having the ends bent backward toforr'n'open channels along the edges, ends for theV crate rmade of sheetmetal having the edges turned outward and fitted into and joined to thesaid channels, downwardly hanged openings for bottles. formed inlongitudinal and transverse rows in the' top, and outwardly flangedsleeves fitting into the openings with their iianges overhanging the topand joined thereto.

2. A bottle crate comprising a body portion formed froml a single sheetYof metal bent in the shape of a' rectangular tube with the edgesmeeting'in part'and weldedtogether at the bottom and in the other'partbent upwardly to form stiifening anges and drainage openings in thebottom, said body portion also having. the ends bent backward to formopen channels alo-ng theY edges, ends for the crate, inadeof sheet metalhaving the edges' turned. outward and fitted vinto and joined to thesaid channels, downwardly iianged openings for lbottles formed inlongitudinal.andtransverse rows inthe top, and outwardly; flangedsleeves fitting into: the openingswith their iianges overhangingthe-topand joined thereto, 'and' means joining the out'enrows of sleevesat'their sides'to the sides sheet meeting in part in the bottom of thebody portion and being* turned up in part to form stiffeninganges and'adrain. opening in the bottom, the end edges. of saidbod'y portion vbeingturned inwards `to formopen channels, a partition formed of sheet metalwith edges turned Vover and joined to the. body portionmidway the endsthereof, ends formedof .sheet metal with edges turned and enteredintothe Vchannels formed by the inwardly turned edges. ofthe bodyportion, said ends being cutaway. at. the cornersto providedrains, and aplurality of longitudinally and transversely extendingy rows ofreinforcedV openings for bottles formed in the top of the body portion.

v5`.,A relatively light sheet metal bottle crate comprising a bodyportion formed from la. single. sheet of metal bent in the form of arectangular tube with reinforcing channels along the corners formingdepressed side panels, the edges of said sheet meeting in part in thebottom of the body portion and being turned up in part to formstiffening flanges and a drain opening in the bottom, the end edges ofsaid body portion being turned inwards to form open channels, apartition formed of sheet metal with edges turned over and joined to thebody portion midway the ends thereof, ends formed of sheet metal withedges turned and entered into the channels formed by the inwardly turnededges of the body portion, said ends being out away at the corners toprovide drains, and a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending rows of sleeves for bottles extending downwardly through the topand joined thereto by Welding, and the outer of said rows also beingjoined to the ends'and sides 'of said crate by Weld` ing.

ALPI-IONSO TAURNLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of-record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

